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Effect of fly ashes on the mechanical performance of hemp modified mortar

Conference Paper · May 2015

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Nadjla Mostefai Rabah Hamzaoui

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 Effect of fly ashes on the mechanical performance of hemp modified
mortar

Nadjla MOSTEFAI
Université Paris-Est, institut de recherché en constructibilité, ESTP, 28 avenue du président
Wilson, 94234 cachan, France (nmostefai@adm.estp.fr)
INRA, rue de la géraudière 44316 Nantes, France
Rabah HAMZAOUI
Université Paris-Est, institut de recherché en constructibilité, ESTP, 28 avenue du président
Wilson, 94234 cachan, France (rhamzaoui@adm.estp.fr)
Sofiane GUESSASMA
INRA, rue de la géraudière 44316 Nantes, France (sofiane.guessasma@nantes.inra.fr)

Abstract (Maximum 500 words):

Although natural fibres are abundant and cheap renewable resource on top of being environmental
friendly, their mechanical reinforcement effect is limited in cementitious materials compared to
synthetic, metallic and glass fibres. The use of traditional fillers in cement matrix is becoming
questionable because of consequent CO2 emission and recycling issues. This may bring natural
fibres to a leading position as reinforcement materials if there is a way to improve the mechanical
performance of formulations made with natural fibres and cementitious matrices.
This work is concerned with showing possible routes to mechanical improvement of a mortar based
composite reinforced using hemp fibres (Cannabis Sativa). The study includes a processing stage
where formulation of hemp modified mortar is exposed with addition of fly ashes. The powder state
of this addition is achieved using ball milling process, which allows a high energy mechanical
processing up to 3 hours. Fly ashes are substituted to cement in a ratio of 15% in weight.
The second part of the study is dedicated to structural and mechanical characterisation of the
modified mortar to evaluate the effect of fly ashes addition. Both flexural and compressive testing
conditions are presented and discussed for both hemp-mortar and hemp-fly ashes-mortar specimens.
The experimental results show that hemp-mortar samples exhibit an improvement of flexural
strength compared to mortar samples. Compressive strength is, however, negatively affected by
hemp fibre addition.
A net increase of both compressive and flexural strengths is obtained with the addition of fly ashes
after only 7 curing days. This increase reaches 28% and further 40% compared to hemp-mortar
samples after 28 and 90 curing days, respectively. These results demonstrate the possibility of
mechanical performance improvement of natural fibre modified mortar when combined with
nanostructured materials such as fly ashes.
Keywords (5): hemp fiber, shives, fly ash, compression stress, flexural Stress
Materials for Construction (MFC)

1
1. Introduction
The alarming reports of the worldwide organizations on the environment, force the industrialists
to move towards materials respecting the environment. The sector of construction generates only
strong CO2 emissions (Nassen, Holmberg et al. 2007). Added to that, the majority of the
reinforcement fibers used to improve the mechanical properties of construction materials such as
the synthetic and metal fibers, which cost increasingly expensive, comes from nonrenewable natural
resources (Nassen, Holmberg et al. 2007), (Pacheco-Torgal and Jalali 2011). In order to reconcile
the sector of construction with the environment, much of research are made to replace these
conventional fibers, by natural fibers coming from renewable and abundant resources and at low
cost.(Hamzaoui, Guessasma et al. 2014), (Pacheco-Torgal and Jalali 2011), (Bledzki and Gassan
1999), (Diquélou, Gourlay et al. 2015), (Elfordy, Lucas et al. 2008), (Sedan, Pagnoux et al. 2008),
(Walker, Pavia et al. 2014). And to find alternatives to reduce the quantity of cement produced.
In the sector of the building, the safety and the solidity of construction are very important; the stake
is to find vegetable fibers, which can replace conventional fibers, to respect the environment, with
the condition, which they get for material sufficient mechanical resistances which ensure the safety
of construction. In the literature, in addition to having a great tolerance in the alkaline environment
[9], the Hemp fiber has the best mechanical properties among vegetable fibers, which supports its
use in the sector of the building (Table 1) (M 2007), (Bentur A 2007).
The hemp fiber is resulting from the Cannabis sativa, a plant with rapid growth and whose
France holds the greatest production in Europe, with 65000 tons for a surface cultivated of 10000
hectares (Stevulova, Kidalova et al. 2012). Shives is also providing from this plant, which is very
much used for its weak density in manufacture of the light concretes.
Several studies were made on the mortar mixed with hemp fiber, which concluded that the
mechanical resistance of the mortar fiber varies according to the length and the content of fiber in
the mixture and the type of the mixture (Elfordy, Lucas et al. 2008), (Walker, Pavia et al. 2014),
(Arnaud and Gourlay 2012, Stevulova, Kidalova et al. 2012). In this work, we study the mechanical
behavior of the mortar mixed with hemp fiber and shives with and without additions of modified
fly-ashes, in order to see the effect of the addition of the fly-ashes on the mechanical properties of
the mortar fiber modified.

Table 1. Mechanical properties of vegetable and synthetic fibers.

Fibre Density Elongation Tensile Young’s Specific Young’s Modulus
(g/cm3) at break strength Modulus (GPacm3/g)
(%) (MPa) (GPa)
Hemp 1.14 1.6 690 30-60 26-53
Flax 1.50 2.7 - 3.2 345 - 1035 28 18
Sisal 1.50 2.0 - 2.5 511- 635 9 - 22 6-15
E-Glass 2.50 2.5 2000-3500 70.0 28
Carbon 1.40 1.4-1.8 4000 230 - 240 165 - 171
Steel 7.75 – 8.05 0.5-3.5 500-2000 220-210 25 - 27

2
2. Materials and methods
2.1. Materials

In our studies, we used Calcia Cement, CEM II/B-M (SSL) 32.5 R CP1 NF IN 197-1, standard
sand, certified CEN, INTO 196-1 and conforms ISO 679-2009. The hemp fibers and shives are
provided by INRA UMR FARE of Reims. They were used natural without any chemical treatment.
In order to determine the optimal mixture, we used fiber sizes of 01, 10 and 20 mm, and mass
concentrations of 01, 02 and 04%, we went up to 10% for the fiber size of 01mm. All these
percentages were substituted for cement.
The milled fly-ashes are obtained by milling process, a grinding during 03:00 with very high
energy. The 15% of milled fly-ashes added, were also substituted for cement.
2.1. Methods

the reference mortars are prepared according the standard Norm EN 196.1, which preconize a
ratio of Cement (C) /Sand(S) ; C/S= 1 :3 and a ratio of Water (W)/Cement (C) ; W/C= 1 :2, this
ratios are kept constants for each mixture and for each fiber percentage.
Hemp absorbs 325% of its weight on water in 24:00 [8], before mixture, we dip our fibers during 15
to 20 minutes in water. In PROVITEC mixer, we add our hemp fibers or shives, dried, with mixing
water, then we add cement, then standard sand, and we mix by respecting the standard EN 196-1.
The mortar is poured into right-prism molds of dimensions (4 X 4 X 16) cm3, we recover them.
After 24:00, we unmould them and preserve in vats filled with water at a temperature of 20°C.
For mortar reference with milled fly ash (REFFA), Hemp Concrete With Fly Ash (HCFA) and
Shives Concrete with Fly Ash (SCFA), the 15% of fly ashes added is subtracted from the cement
content. We mix as describe previously, while mainting the same amount of water (without fly ash
addition).
The workability of the modified mortar is investigated in a fresh state of the mortar, by
using the flow table according to standard NF IN 1015-3 [16], we determined, The relative change
in diameter of the fresh mortar in percent is used to calculate flow or consistency evolution.
The compression and 3 points bending tests were carried out with a MTS 100KN and 3R
250KN, for these two machines, the distance between the supporting pins is of 100 mm, the
displacement rate is maintained with (0,5 mm/s). The cell of load is adapted to be above the
maximum forces recorded. Three samples are used for the bending tests and the 6 half-samples for
the tests of compression. These tests were carried out to 07, 28 and 90 days.

3. Results and discussions

3.1. Workability
The hemp fibers affect modified concrete more than shives, when the hemp fibers content
increase the modified concrete becomes less fluid..

3.2. Mechanical properties

In addition to the tests of workability, the bending and compression tests in 07 days and 28 days
for the various sizes and contents of fibers and shives, enabled us to determine the optimal mixture
of the modified concrete, and this mixture is obtained with a fiber of hemp or shives of 20 mm and
a percentage of 02%.
The Figures 1(a) and 1(b) show the maximum mechanical resistances in bending and
compression to 28 days, of the Hemp Concrete (HC) and Shives Concrete (SC), respectively for the

3
fractions of 01%,02% and 04%. We notice that the HC202, of length fiber 20 mm and 02%
fraction has better answer in the bending and in compression it is the HC12 of length of fiber
01mm and 02% fraction, which gives best resistance, for the SC, best flexural and compression
stresses obtained with a SC201 of length 20 mm and a fraction of 01%.

40
SC1c SC1f
(a) HC1c HC1f (b)
35 SC10c SC10f
HC10c HC10f
35 SC20c SC20f
HC20c HC20f
30
30

Stress (MPa)
Stress (MPa)

25
25

10

5 0
1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4

Fraction (%) Fraction (%)

Figure 1. Flexural and Compression stress at 28 days for different percentages

(a) Hemp Concrete (HC) and (b) Shiv Concrete (SC)

After the addition of 15% of milled fly-ashes to the optimum concrete, we carried out the
mechanical tests of 07,28 and 90 days, Figures 2 (a) and 2 (b).

70
11,5 REF REF
(a) 65
(b)
Compression Stress (MPa)

11,0 REFFA REFFA

10,5
HC 60 HC
HCFA HCFA
Flexural Stress (MPa)

10,0 55
SC SC
9,5 SCFA 50 SCFA
9,0 45

8,5 40
8,0 35
7,5
30
7,0
25
6,5
20
6,0
07Days 28Days 90Days 07Days 28Days 90Days

Figure 2. Stress at 07, 28 and 90 Days of REF, REFFA, HC, HCFA, SC, and SCFA
(a) Bending (b) Compression.

We note a clear improvement of compression for the reference with fly ash (REFFA) and of the
concrete modified with fly ash; hemp concrete fly ash (HCFA) and Shives Concrete fly ash (SCFA)
starting from 28 days and this improvement is maintained at 90 days. This improvement is noted in
bending as of the 07 day, it moves back at 28 days to reappear at 90 days.

4
 Figures 3 (a) and 3 (b) representing, respectively, flexural and compression stress to 28 days.
We notice that the fly-ashes significantly improve compression of the reference and modified
concrete HC and SC, and this improvement is always valid in bending for the REFFA and the
SCFA, but not for the HCFA. Though for this last, the values of flexural stress for the HC and
HCFA are near.

55

10 (a) REF 50 REF (b)

REFFA REFFA

Compression Stress (MPa)

45
HC HC
Flexural Stress (MPa)

8 HCFA 40 HCFA
SC SC
35
SCFA SCFA
6 30

25

4 20

15

2 10

0 0
0,00 0,01 0,02 0,03 0,04 0,05 0,00 0,05 0,10 0,15 0,20 0,25 0,30 0,35 0,40 0,45 0,50

Strain (%) Strain (%)

Figure 3. Stress answer at 28 Days for REF, REFFA, HC, HCFA, SC SCFA
(a) Bending and (b) Compression

4. Conclusion
Hemp fiber improves the compressive strength compared to the reference, better than the
shives. it is about 69% for hemp fiber against 58% for the shives. The bending as for it is improved
from only 38% for hemp compared with 58% for the shives.

The addition of the modified fly-ashes increases considerably the compressive strength
(66MPa), with also a clear increase in the inflection.

The results of the addition of the modified fly-ashes support the use of vegetable fibers in
construction materials.

5. References
Arnaud, L. and E. Gourlay (2012). "Experimental study of parameters influencing mechanical
properties of hemp concretes." Construction and Building Materials 28(1): 50-56.
Bentur A, M. S. (2007). "Fiber Reinforced Cementitions composites."
Bledzki, A. K. and J. Gassan (1999). "Composites reinforced with cellulose based fibres." Progress
in Polymer Science 24(2): 221-274.
Diquélou, Y., E. Gourlay, L. Arnaud and B. Kurek (2015). "Impact of hemp shiv on cement setting
and hardening: Influence of the extracted components from the aggregates and study of the
interfaces with the inorganic matrix." Cement and Concrete Composites 55(0): 112-121.
Elfordy, S., F. Lucas, F. Tancret, Y. Scudeller and L. Goudet (2008). "Mechanical and thermal
properties of lime and hemp concrete (“hempcrete”) manufactured by a projection process."
Construction and Building Materials 22(10): 2116-2123.

5
 Hamzaoui, R., S. Guessasma, B. Mecheri, A. M. Eshtiaghi and A. Bennabi (2014). "Microstructure
and mechanical performance of modified mortar using hemp fibres and carbon nanotubes."
Materials & Design 56: 60-68.
M, L. (2007). "Handbook of fiber chemistry."
Nassen, J., J. Holmberg, A. Wadeskog and M. Nyman (2007). "Direct and indirect energy use and
carbon emissions in the production phase of buildings: An input-output analysis." Energy 32(9):
1593-1602.
Pacheco-Torgal, F. and S. Jalali (2011). "Cementitious building materials reinforced with vegetable
fibres: A review." Construction and Building Materials 25(2): 575-581.
Sedan, D., C. Pagnoux, A. Smith and T. Chotard (2008). "Mechanical properties of hemp fibre
reinforced cement: Influence of the fibre/matrix interaction." Journal of the European Ceramic
Society 28(1): 183-192.
Stevulova, N., L. Kidalova, J. Junak, J. Cigasova and E. Terpakova (2012). "Effect of Hemp Shive
Sizes on Mechanical Properties of Lightweight Fibrous Composites." Procedia Engineering 42(0):
496-500.
Walker, R., S. Pavia and R. Mitchell (2014). "Mechanical properties and durability of hemp-lime
concretes." Construction and Building Materials 61(0): 340-348.

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